Fogo De Chao is well known for fire grounded meat such as chicken, beef, lamb, and pork along with other meat varieties. It is one of the best places to enjoy a full churrasco experience!
If you are on a gluten-free diet, I have good news! Fogo De Chao is one of those rare restaurants that bring you gluten-sensitive options in a buffet setting. Here youll find an extensive and elaborate buffet along with ala carte service.
So what’s gluten-free at Fogo De Chao?
The majority of meats at Fogo De Chao are free from gluten agents, except for some options that have been marinated with beer.
You can also have the Brazilian cheese bread made which is wholly made with Cassava flour.
Keep in mind that there’s always a risk for cross-contamination with other gluten agents in the kitchen. So, exercise due caution if you have extreme allergies. We’ll talk more about this in the sections that follow.
If you have always looked out for options that satisfy your need for fresh ingredients, real kitchens and nutritious food items – Fogo de Chao is definitely the right choice for you!
Fogo De Chao Gluten-Free Options
Did you know what “Fogo De Chao” really means? What is the main attraction at this place that makes it one of the best steakhouses in town?
All it took them was to introduce a hand-breaded chicken breast, seasoned to perfection and laid on appetizingly buttered, toasted bread – that too, served with two pickles.
Fogo De Chao means ground fire which symbolizes the gaucho traditional way of roasting the meat in an open fire.
If you are looking for an all-you-can-eat steakhouse having gluten-free options, then Fogo De Chao is the right place to go. Fogo De Chao is a Brazilian restaurant and a steakhouse which serves all kinds of steaks.
The all-you-can-eat steakhouse is something you will be itching to try. This rich tradition of churrasco grilling was opted by the founders of Fogo De Chao, Jair Coser and Arri which they learnt while living on the traditional Southern Brazil farm.
They used to live in Serra Gaucha. The fogo concept developed more in their formal training at Rio and Sao Paulo.
The ambiance is so dreamy and serene that you will absolutely love the experience. This restaurant falls on the higher side of the price range. All the food items available on the menu are available to be served with the finest garnishing.
It serves everything from meats to market bars and the menu is very simple to read. The bread, especially the table bread, is also made of tapioca starch so you don’t have to worry about gluten anymore.
They do cater the needs of their consumers who want to enjoy gluten-free foods when they are out with their families or friends. The restaurant staff is so polite and humble to tell and guide about gluten-free foods.
They can even bring a free gluten-free menu for the customers.
The manager also comes to help the customers choose their order and explain the meal and its sides.
We are going to share a detailed analysis of Fogo De Chao’s menu items that should be safely gluten-free.
Except for some chicken that has been marinated in beer, the majority of meats are gluten-free. Gluten-free and delicious Brazilian cheese bread (made with cassava flour).
Additionally gluten-free are rice and mashed potatoes. Nearly all foods are gluten-free.
They have delicious gluten-free cheese bread and unlimited amounts of meat. You also get a fantastic fruit and salad bar. What’s more, a gluten-free dessert is also offered at Fogo De Chao.
Here’s an in-depth view of all the gluten-free items are available at Fogo De Chao:
Meats
- Lamb
- pork ribs
- pork loin
- beef ribs
- Prime part of top sirloin
- rib eye
- beef tenderloin
- bottom sirloin
- top sirloin
- chicken legs
- pork sausage
Seafood
- jumbo shrimp cocktail
- smoked salmon
- grilled spiced shrimp skewers
- mango chilean sea bass
Salad
All salad options are gluten-free except Tabouli salad, primavera pasta salad, scalloped potatoes, lightly breaded zucchini and blue cheese, ranch, basil and caesar dressings
Sides
- caramelized bananas
- pao de queijo aka warm cheese bread
- garlic mashed potatoes
RECOMMENDED: Pei Wei’s gluten-free menu items
Desserts
- flan
- papaya cream
- strawberry cream
- chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice creams
- creme brulee
- caramelized pineapples
Ala Carte Menu
- Charcuterie bread
- jumbo shrimp cocktail
- warm hearts of palm and spinach dip
- grilled spicy shrimp skewers
- grilled beef tenderloin skewers
- crispy parmesan polenta fries
Soups and Salads
- side salad
- grilled picanha sirloin salad
- hearts of palm and avocado salad
- brazilian spiced chicken salad
Sandwiches and Entrees
- brazilian spice-rubbed chicken
- Pan-seared sole with lemon butter and capers along with sauteed spinach
- The churrasco plate with classic brazilian sauces and grilled asparagus and choice of either filet mignon, ribeye or three lab chops.
FIND MORE: Gluten-Free Options at Fazoli’s
Tips for a Gluten-Free meal at Fogo De Chao
As mentioned above, there are some menu items at this eatery which one can be 100% sure to be gluten-free. However, the risk of contamination is always there. The gluten-free bun can be contaminated when taken out of the seal.
The drinks, although are coming from the machines, but the equipment cleaning procedures, mishandling of the cups/straws with hands that have just come in contact with wheat based items – may pose a serious risk.
So, to ensure one’s safety, here are a few tips that you can follow:
Don’t assume: be skeptical
It is very important to double-check, because it is your health at stake. Yes, you can be confident about the certified gluten-free bun – but remember!
Even that can pose a serious risk to your health if you become easy even for a single moment.
Tell the staff about your condition
It is always a good idea to check if the restaurant’s staff is properly trained on allergens and mitigation of their risk.
It is your responsibility to tell the servers and the manager about your condition – so that in case of any emergency, they would be prepared to take the appropriate actions.
Not to mention, double check with the staff if they understood your order correctly.
If you are doubtful, it is best to pass
There is nothing more important in the world than taking full responsibility for one’s own health.
Therefore, if you feel unsure about a certain ingredient, and the restaurant staff is, for some reason, unable to satisfy your doubts, its best to walk away than to put yourself at great risk.
Avoid Rush Hours
All great businesses face rush hours. However, it is always during these times that restaurants may undergo food safety negligence.
Therefore, for a condition like celiac disease, we highly recommend you to avoid rush hours, even if you feel that you have a certain favorite server at a particular restaurant who will not mess up with your order.
It is better to be safe than sorry, because if something that can go wrong, will go wrong – and you will only have yourself to blame.
Cross Contamination Risk
Cross contamination risk means the risk of transferring bacteria or any allergen from one food to another. There are also no chances of cross contamination as the meats are served separately.
The raw material that comes to the kitchen is also packed in different boxes to assure no cross contamination occurs.
Speaking of it, although these foods are brought inside the preparation area in special packaging, this measure only reduces the risk of cross-contamination. It does not eliminate it.
Hence, if you are an individual with Celiac Disease or severe gluten allergy, we recommend you to double check with the restaurant management.
What does the public say?
A restaurant may introduce several new menu items, but their success or failure will always be determined by the general public feedback.
It is the case here. Therefore, we did a thorough internet research to understand how the consumers perceive the gluten free items at Fogo De Chao.
The customers say that it is a great place to have a dinner for meat lovers. It has a huge variety of food items starting from salad bar to various meat varieties served right at the table until you are full.
The reception welcomed them in a great way so the staff is really polite and good too. It is like heaven for a gourmand and nibbler. You will want to try everything from the Brazilian to the South American dishes as if you are a kid at a toy store.
Some comments over the internet were negative too. A few consumers expressed their extreme dislikeness over the taste of the GF bun.
There were no comments over the internet, which said that the restaurant’s gluten-free food items worsened their condition or triggered any of the gluten allergy symptoms.
Gluten-free alternatives to Fogo De Chao
Boston Market:
Although the restaurant does not offer gluten free fries or buns, but if you really want to enjoy their chicken or any of the other meat based dish, here is what you can have with no risk of gluten allergies:
- Rotisserie chicken
- Roasted turkey breast
- Steamed vegetables
- Southwest cobb salad
- Holiday ham
- Holiday turkey
Five Guys
Well, they certainly do not have the time to make a gluten-free bun for you, but they can satisfy your needs by wrapping their delicious beef patty in lettuce for you. In addition, their fries are gluten-free too.
Hence, you can enjoy these two as a safer alternative.
Shake Shack
This restaurant does serve gluten-free buns on most of their outlets, except for a few. So, if you are lucky to be at a Shake Shack that is catering to your gluten free needs, please go ahead.
Other gluten free safer alternatives at this restaurant menu may include:
- Several Shake Shack Milkshakes with no wheat based ingredients (we highly recommend you to tell the staff about your condition so that they can blend your milkshakes in clean, separate equipment).
- Hot Honey Fries (only these fries are safe from gluten-free perspective, other fries from the restaurant are not safe for those having gluten allergies).
Chick-Fil-A
The food chain’s new bun is a “certified” gluten-free option in the menu; however, there are many options without wheat-based ingredients. Here is what you can confidently pick from the gluten-free menu at Chick-Fil-A:
- Sorghum, amaranth, millet, quinoa and teff – all mixed together to make the perfect gluten-free bun
- Honest Kids® Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink
- Cinnamon Apple Sauce (Buddy Fruits®)
- Milk
- Simply Orange® Orange Juice
- Waffle Potato Chips
- Sausage Patty, Hash Browns and a Greek Yogurt Parfait*
- Bacon Slice, Hash Browns and a Small Fruit Cup
- Hash brown Scramble Bowl meal and a Fruit Cup
- 8-count Grilled Nuggets, Kale Crunch Side* and Medium Fruit Cup
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich or Club (no bun or substitute Gluten Free bun)
- Filet and Waffle Potato Fries with your choice of beverage
- Market Salad* with any of our yummy-tasting salad dressings
Conclusion
You will find plenty of food items that are gluten-free even the desserts served at Fogo De Chao are gluten-free.
You can choose a variety of steaks that are fire grounded and provide the best and juiciest taste at this all-you-can-eat steakhouse. You will absolutely love the steaks and sides.
Do try their gluten-free desserts to get the best taste in town. All the gluten-free labeled foods items served here are safe to eat at Fogo De Chao from salads to the desserts section.